Friday 30 June 2017

Cyber Security Roundup for June 2017

Another large scale ransomware cyber attack caused chaos and dominated the media headlines around the world this month. The Petya ransomware, a copycat of WannaCry, caused major operational impact to organisations neglecting to apply Microsoft Windows critical security updates. There were reports of the malware significantly impacting British marketing firm WPP, a Jewson hardware store, Ukrainian national infrastructure associated firms, and even halting production at a Cadbury chocolate factory in Australia.

Aside from the Peyta ransomware outbreak, it was another busy month of significant cyber security attacks and data compromises across the UK. The UK Parliament's email system was hacked with around 90 email accounts compromised due to the usage of weak passwords by parliament staff, it is not certain how many of 90 were MPs or not, but I wouldn't surprised if there were more than a few using weak passwords. There were further cyber troubles for the UK government after its Digital Service website data.gov.uk data was compromised. Virgin media told 800,000 of its users to change their router passwords after it was discovered that hackers could access Virgin's Super Hub 2 routers. And there was yet more critical security patches released this month, as Microsoft and application vendors fight to stay ahead of cyber criminals and nation-state actors software exploits.

Over in the United States, a US Health Insurer forked out £90 million to cover compensation and legal costs after hackers stolen customer records in its care. We could well see these types of large payouts in the UK soon after the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) kicks in May 2018. The GDPR gives the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) new powers to fine up to 10 Million Euros or 2% the previous year global turnover of the company, for any cyber security breaches. Data subjects will also have the right to take companies to court to seek damages as well. The ICO will get double those penalty rates for privacy rights breaches, ouch! Under the GDPR companies are forced to fess up to all security incidents which compromises or places personal data at risk, both to the ICO and to each data subject impacted, so there will be no hiding place for security breaches in the UK after next May.

Finally, US Cert and Incapsula released an interesting advisory about 'Hidden Cobra', a North Korean Cyber Threat group. This nation-state group is seemingly ramping up their capabilities at the moment, and are behind the DeltaCharlie campaign and linked with the WannaCry ransomware outbreak last month, well worth a read.

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2 comments:

Keith Scott said...

I think there should not any consideration about cyber security. North Korea or any other country if anybody guilty for this he should be punished.

Laptop Repairs said...

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